Parachute attachment for flying-machines.



A. C.` CAMBRIDGE.

PAR'ACHUTE ATTACHMENT FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED. IIIAY 24l IQII,

@bmw mj of Charleston N tra emerse artnr? onirica ALONZG C. CAMBRIDGE, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

PARACHUTE ATTACHMENT FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, lille.

Application filed May 24, 1917. Serial No. 170,701.

' ticularly adapted for use on aeroplanes, the

same including a parachute attachment that y is normally closed, but which will be opened by theoperator, should the machine lose its stability for any reason, and hence permit al safe descent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be applied to various types of flying machines, and which includes a pair of parachutes, that are normally held in operative or closed position, and which will be opened instantaneously and simultaneously upon'the operator pulling a single opL erating cord 'hence permitting a safe and slow descent of a disabled machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which. will be very emcient in Operation.

'With these and numerous other objects in view my invention consists of the n ovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

lin the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my attachment..

Fig; 2 is a top plan View of one of the parahutes; and

Fig.- 3 is a detail vertical section through one of the supporting standards of the parachute attachment. A

ln describing my 'invention l shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. l have shown this attachment comprising a pair of parachutes, but it is obvious that if desired only one of the same may be used, but it has beenl found that the devicev is safer and operates better if a pair of parachutes are employed.

These parachutes are substantially alike in construction, and for the sake of brevity l will only specilicallydescribe one of the same.

The parachutes are designated by the numorals 1 and 2, and they are formed of a single supporting standard 3 which is tubular, and which has formed on its lower end a base 4, provided with strengthenii'lg ribs 5, said base being adapted to beV secured to the aeroplane The base is provided with an opening therethrough, and disposed adjacent to the same is a pulley (l for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. A

plurality of pulleys 7 are mounted'adjacent 70 to the open upper end of said supporting standards, and hingedly connected with the said standard adjacent to the end are a plurality of ribs 8, which extend outwardly therefrom, and are connected with a sliding collar 9 mounted on the outer surface .of the standards by connecting members 10. This is the conventional type of umbrella like parachute, and the same is provided with a cover 11 of any desired material which is 80 found most applicable.

Secured to the outer edges of the parachutes are a plurality of cables 12, which extend upwardly over the cover, and over` Athe pulleys 7, down into the standards 3,

where thelr free ends are connected by a terminal ring 13. The terminal ring 13 has secured thereto an operating cable 14, which extends downwardly through the standard out the open lower end thereof through the The operatbase fl, and over .the pulley (i. ing cable 14 extends between the parachutes l and 2, a single cable being employed, and said cable having its bpposite ends connected with the terminal ring within the standards of the machine, so that the cable may be grasped to open the parachute when it is found necessary. Y

'lhe parachutes are normally held in closed position by means of a spring 16 that surrounds the same, said sprlng being secured`' thereto through loops 17, and normally holding the parachutes in closed position. The spring 16 is carried on the outer surface of the parachute, and 1s expanslble, so that when the parachutes are opened, the spring will slide throughv the loop members and will be held in position thereon. l

spring will tend to once more parachutes are secured e ying machine, the same beingspecially applicable to aeroplanes, in any desired manner, it only being necessary that the bases 4 be secured thereto, so that the operating cable Will be disposed in easy reach of the Operator of the machine. parachutes are normally held in closed position by the spring 16 and when it is desired to open the same s ould the flying machine losc its stability and fall toward the earth, the operator grasps the operating cable 14 by them'eans l5, and pulls down on the same, whereupon owing to the fact that this cabl -In, operation the on t up on the standards 3. sition, it is obvious that the same will be held there, crippled machine to the earth will be accomplished of the parachutes will not chute, and hold 1t 1n normally vclosed position.

., 7 0 erated, lis disabled? aIiJd said attachment will not be in any way hurt Iby the operation thereof, it returning to normal closed position after the machine has been landed.

From the above description, taken in contion, and advantages of my invention be had, and While I have shown and scribed the device as structure, I desire to have it understood, that such changes may be made in said structure may deflying machine,

A device of the class described including a tubular supporti g standard adapted to be secured to a yingv machine, an umbrella like parachute carried by said standard, cabl of the said parachute and extending into said standard,

l an expansible sprin said parachute and secured t mally hold the same closed.

In testimony whereof, I alix my signature hereto.

ereto to nor- ALONZO C. CAMBRIDGE.

embodying a specific 1 parachutes car-` with the outer edges 

